Smelley, Shealy make Neptune Cup quarters before falling

Former University of Alabama football player Brad Smelley, now with the Cleveland Browns, teamed with fellow American Christian Academy alumnus Steadman Shealy in doubles play. The duo won its first match Saturday but lost to Anthony Woods and Scott Davis.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Danielle WalkerSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 11:28 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | The doubles duo of Steadman Shealy and Brad Smelley brought a large crowd out again to Saturday’s Neptune Cup at the NorthRiver Yacht Club.

Shealy’s dad, Steadman Shealy Jr., was the starting quarterback on the 1979 University of Alabama national championship football team, and Smelley played tight end and H-back for UA and now plays for the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the seventh round in 2012.

Shealy and Smelley made quick work of Robert Lovell and Jeff Striker, defeating them 6-0, 6-0.

The University of Alabama and American Christian Academy alumni have played tennis together for only four days, but the duo already has definite chemistry on the court. Smelley said the two began playing tennis in seventh grade with a group of guys, but they have never played as partners before this week’s tournament.

“It seems to be working well,” Shealy said.

This is their first time competing in the Neptune Cup, and “the love of the game” compelled them to do so, Smelley said.

The pair’s exciting, fast-paced game brought many fans out to cheer them and the other competitors on.

“It’s been fun. We’ve never played tennis with everyone watching us before, so it’s kind of exciting to have friends and family watching you and rooting you on,” Smelley said.

Smelley said playing tennis is just something he likes to do, but he’s noticed improvements to his football game.

“It’s really good for lateral quickness, and since I’ve been playing, I’ve gained an edge in quickness,” Smelley said.

The two faced off against another tournament favorite and pair of old high school buddies, Anthony Woods and Scott Davis, later Saturday. The crowded complex was visibly and audibly divided between the two pairs.

“There’s a deep rivalry between this team,” Davis said of his old high school opponents.

The match was intense, a fight that came down to the wire. Smelley and Shealy took the first set, 6-2. Woods and Davis took the next 6-2, sending the match into a third set.

The teams fought the heat, fatigue and each other until Woods and Davis were finally able to win the third set 7-5.

“We play our matches we play at night, so when we came out here midday, midheat and having an audience watching us was just a whole different ball game,” Woods said.

Woods and Davis advanced to play in the semifinals today at 9 a.m. against Al Lewis and Scott Bridges.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The doubles duo of Steadman Shealy and Brad Smelley brought a large crowd out again to Saturday's Neptune Cup at the NorthRiver Yacht Club.</p><p>Shealy's dad, Steadman Shealy Jr., was the starting quarterback on the 1979 University of Alabama national championship football team, and Smelley played tight end and H-back for UA and now plays for the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the seventh round in 2012.</p><p>Shealy and Smelley made quick work of Robert Lovell and Jeff Striker, defeating them 6-0, 6-0.</p><p>The University of Alabama and American Christian Academy alumni have played tennis together for only four days, but the duo already has definite chemistry on the court. Smelley said the two began playing tennis in seventh grade with a group of guys, but they have never played as partners before this week's tournament.</p><p>“It seems to be working well,” Shealy said.</p><p>This is their first time competing in the Neptune Cup, and “the love of the game” compelled them to do so, Smelley said.</p><p>The pair's exciting, fast-paced game brought many fans out to cheer them and the other competitors on.</p><p>“It's been fun. We've never played tennis with everyone watching us before, so it's kind of exciting to have friends and family watching you and rooting you on,” Smelley said.</p><p>Smelley said playing tennis is just something he likes to do, but he's noticed improvements to his football game.</p><p>“It's really good for lateral quickness, and since I've been playing, I've gained an edge in quickness,” Smelley said.</p><p>The two faced off against another tournament favorite and pair of old high school buddies, Anthony Woods and Scott Davis, later Saturday. The crowded complex was visibly and audibly divided between the two pairs.</p><p>“There's a deep rivalry between this team,” Davis said of his old high school opponents.</p><p>The match was intense, a fight that came down to the wire. Smelley and Shealy took the first set, 6-2. Woods and Davis took the next 6-2, sending the match into a third set. </p><p>The teams fought the heat, fatigue and each other until Woods and Davis were finally able to win the third set 7-5.</p><p>“We play our matches we play at night, so when we came out here midday, midheat and having an audience watching us was just a whole different ball game,” Woods said.</p><p>Woods and Davis advanced to play in the semifinals today at 9 a.m. against Al Lewis and Scott Bridges.</p><p>In the A division, Jack Evans and Kennedy Buettner defeated Marc de los Reyes and Josh Faught 6-3, 6-1; Kevin Krieger and Cole Alitzer defeated Evans and Buettner 6-3, 6-4; Mark Hearing and Thomas Gore defeated Randy Edmonson and Mitch Griffin 6-4, 6-4.</p><p>In the B division, Reiner Goers and Ron Garayanala defeated Jerry Mims and John Cain 6-0, 6-0; Bridges and Lewis defeated Larry Sullivan and Ken Beckler 7-5, 6-3; Tim Rutledge and Wilson Moore defeated Mike Case and Geoffrey Haynes 6-3, 6-0; Woods and Davis defeated Ted Jackson and Dexter Montz 6-4, 6-3; Bridges and Lewis defeated Craig Buettner and Mike Hearing 6-1, 6-0; Rutledge and Moore defeated Andy Pettus and Frank Xu 6-2,6-0.</p>